New research reveals the most commonly used drugs in Ireland
The number of people treated for cocaine abuse in Ireland has risen for the third year in a row.
Opiates, mostly heroin, proved the most commonly reported drug over a seven-year period in a new drug treatment study from the Health Research Board, though the amount of treated cases has decreased significantly in that time.
Cannabis, meanwhile, is the second most common substance reported by new cases, increasing from 23% (2,025 cases) in 2010 to 26% (2,439 cases) by 2016.
Contrast that with opiates, which has gone from 58% (5,115 cases) to 47% (4,341 cases) in the same time period.
Elsewhere, the number of Irish people who received treatment for cocaine abuse has risen for a third year in a row.
The latest figures – recorded by the National Drug Treatment Reporting System – illustrate that a total of 63,187 cases were treated for problem drug use – excluding alcohol – in Ireland between 2010 and 2016.
Source: joe.ie, June 2018
